Downtown Ypsilanti businesses get grant for storefront improvements

Five Ypsilanti businesses will share a $50,000 state grant to improve their downtown storefronts.

Corner Health Center, Puffer Reds Records and Boutique, Look in the Attic, a former African food store and the former DTE building will get state money to help pay for improvements they're planning for their properties.

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority awarded $200,000 to four cities this month to improve the look of their downtown districts.

Brian Vosburg, director of the Downtown Development Authority, says the grant will be divided among the five businesses based on the size and scope of the projects.

Ypsilanti was selected because it has a traditional downtown and businesses have shown a commitment to investing in the district, said Joe Borgstrom, director of specialized technical assistance and revitalization strategy with the state authority.
"It showed us that they care about downtown," Borgstrom said.

The Corner Health Center, at 47 N. Huron St., offers medical care, health education and support services to people age 12 to 21 and their children. The clinic bought a building adjacent to its property on Huron Street, and the expansion that should be completed in the spring will give it additional exam and counseling rooms, said executive director Joan Chesler.

"I'm very happy about the money," she said.

Tandra Williams, owner of Puffer Reds at 113 W. Michigan Ave., said her business has expanded from one storefront to three and will use the funds to make the storefronts appear uniform.

The Downtown Development Authority has been working for several years to improve Ypsilanti's downtown and bring more people and businesses to the area. It conducted a study last year that recommended continuing to improve downtown buildings.
"It feels great," said DDA Director Brian Vosburg. "It shows the state believes in what we're doing here to improve downtown."

Vosburg said the money will be divided according to the size and scope of the improvement projects. The city applied for $100,000 and received half of that amount, he said.

Twelve cities applied for the program, Borgstrom said. The other three that received the state grant are Detroit ($75,000), Benton Harbor ($50,000) and Davison ($25,000).